Process and apparatus for making an inert atmosphere in airtight packages

Abstract

The process, applied to inerting of airtight packagings, used together or separately the deoxygenation of empty packagings under inert atmosphere, purging of the gas ceiling of the packagings after filling and before closing with an inert fluid, under inert atmospheres, each operation being performed by two simultaneous injections of fluid; said liquid or pasty product optionally being deoxygenated by an inert gas. This technique is applicable to the preservation of any liquid, pasty, solid and powdery food product, to pharmaceutical and biological products.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process of inerting an airtight package containing a consumable product, comprising passing the package, while open and containing the consumable product, into and through an elongated insulating gap for protecting the open package from entry thereinto of oxygen, the transverse width of said cap having a dimension only slightly greater than the transverse dimension of the packages and extending downwardly a substantial proportion of the height of said packages;   feeding inert gas into the interior of said elongated insulating cap above the level of the top of the package in a direction which is at first horizontal and then upwards in the interior of the insulating cap to flush the atmosphere above the package downwardly through spaces between packages and lateral walls of the cap;   simultaneously and separately feeding inert gas downwardly through a vertical tubes into said package to purge gaseous medium therefrom; and   sealing said package.   
     
     
       2. A process for inerting an open package containing a consumable product and sealing said package in an airtight manner, comprising: passing an upper end of the open package containing the consumable product into and through an elongated insulating cap having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section with an open bottom and side walls extending downwardly a substantial portion of the height of said package, the transverse width of said elongated insulating cap having a dimension only slightly greater than the traverse dimension of the package;   feeding inert gas into the interior of said elongated insulating cap above the level of the upper end of the package in a direction which is at first horizontal and then upwards within the insulating cap to flush the atmosphere above the package downwardly through spaces between the package and the lateral walls of the insulating cap, to prevent entry of oxygen into said insulating cap while said package is moving therethrough;   simultaneously and separately feeding inert gas downwardly through vertical tubes into said package to purge gaseous medium therefrom while said package is moving through said elongated insulating cap; and   sealing said open package to provide an airtight package.